Nottingham Forest have announced that they will hold a collection to help the staff of rivals Notts County before their pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad tonight and many Reds fans have commended the club.

Due to financial issues, Notts County’s players, staff and manager have not had their wages paid since May.

A statement on the club site said: “The club would like to reassure all supporters wishing to donate that 100% of the money raised will go towards the staff at Meadow Lane.

“Collectors will be easily identifiable around The City Ground prior to kick-off.”

According to BBC Sport, outgoing owner Alan Hardy has said today that Notts County has been sold to a Danish consortium.

This will come as a huge relief to Magpies fans, many of whom will have been worried the club would be wound up over an unpaid tax bill.

The takeover likely means that the club will not start 12 points down in the National League next season after they were relegated from League Two in 2018/19.

Due to the cross-city rivalry, relations between the two sets of fans are often frosty, to say the least, and previous meetings have led to violence and arrests.

The two clubs have met just once competitively in the last 25 years, a League Cup tie which Forest won 4-3 on penalties after the game finished 3-3 following extra time.

Given the rivalry, this is a commendable move by Forest and shows some real class on their part.

Many Reds fans recognised it as exactly that and responded to the announcement on the club’s official Twitter account with messages of support and admiration.

Read the reaction of Forest fans here: